Windows 10 support ends on October 14

The second most used operating system on desktop computers and laptops is Microsoft's Windows 10.

But Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 in October 2025.

It is pertinent to note that Windows 10 was introduced in July 2015, and a decade later, the company is ending its life.

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, but you will be able to use it on computers and laptops.

However, the company will not release software and security updates for Windows 10, and users will be advised to switch to Windows 11.

Currently, about 43 percent of computers are using Windows 10, and many users are not willing to upgrade it from Windows 11 or their computer is not eligible for it.

Now users basically have 3 options.

One is to upgrade your computer to Windows 11 for free if your device is eligible.

The other is to buy a new computer that comes with Windows 11 pre-installed or switch to an alternative operating system like a Mac or Chromebook.

The third option is to forget about Windows 11 for now and sign up for Extended Security Updates (ESU), which will keep you updated on Windows 10 for a year.

Since the third option is easy and free, here's how to do it.

How to sign up for Extended Security Updates?

If your computer doesn't receive security updates, the risk of malware infection will increase over time, but ESU will keep Windows 10 secure for a year.

At one point, Microsoft was charging $30 for a 12-month extension, but now Windows 10 users have a free way out.

Update your computer first

You can check if your computer is up to date by going to Settings, System, and About.

Make sure you're using an administrator account

If you share your computer with other people at home, make sure you're signed in with an administrator account.

Usually, the first account created on a computer is an administrator, but you can also check it by going to Settings and Your Info.

Check if your computer is eligible for Windows 11 upgrade

If you see the option to upgrade to Windows 11, do so because it's free.

Sign up for Extended Security Updates

To do this, select Updates & Security in the Settings menu and click the Enroll now sign-up link there.

If the Enroll now link is not visible, then you will probably need to install the latest Windows 10 updates on your computer.

Choose an upgrade method

When you click Enroll now, you will see a few options, the easiest of which is Back up your PC settings.

It is free but it may take some time because you will need to back up your data.

But there are 2 conditions attached to this free option, one is that you will have to link your Windows login to Microsoft's cloud online service.

The second problem is that you will only have 5 GB of storage available for free backup, after which you will need to pay for Microsoft OneDrive services.

But you can prevent files that you don't want to be backed up by going to Settings and then clicking OneDrive and turning off various options such as Documents, Pictures, and Videos.

Once you're signed in, a pop-up window will appear that says Add device to receive Extended Security Updates, click Add device to Enroll.

After doing this, your computer won't need to worry about updates for 12 months.